The Cameron University Collegian: March 3, 2008

COLLEGIAN Informing the Cameron Family Since 1926

T H E C A M E R O N U N I V E R S I T Y

Monday, March 3, 2008Monday, March 3, 2008 Volume 82 Issue 6

News

A&E

Sports

Voices

University enrollment falls during 2007-08 academic yearBy Brandi O’DanielCollegian Staff

In the past year, Cameron has seen a signifi cant decline in the student population throughout all departments.

From spring 2007 to spring 2008, CU’s student headcount has gone down by 4.6 percent, which has caused Cameron to ask why such a decrease in only a year’s time.

Jamie Glover, Director of Media Relations, contributes the drop in students to the decline of military dependents, since the Fort Sill population makes up such a large number of Cameron’s student population.

“Since 2001, we’ve lost more than a thousand military students,” Glover siad. “Th at drop makes up a big percentage of our population.”

While there has been a decrease in enrollment, the university is making up for that decline in other areas.

Th e decline in credit hours has only dropped 3.6 percent, meaning that while there are fewer students on campus, more of those students are increasing their load and taking more credit hours each semester.

With the shrinking population of students, Glover said that Cameron is doing it’s best to make improvements

campus wide to ensure that those students currently here continue their education at CU.

One of Cameron’s program improvements is the early alert system, which is set up to alert the faculty when students are showing signs of trouble.

“Th e early alert system allows faculty to identify students showing diffi culty in class or with attendance so that they can reach out to students,” Glover said. “Th ey have piloted this for several years and it has been up and running for the last year.”

See ENROLLMENTPage 2

Students fl ock to Fitness Center for Career Expo.

SEE PAGE 4

Cameron University’s fi rst annual Parents’ Weekend kicked off on Feb. 22 and 23 during the closing of the Homecoming events.

Students and their parents were invited to attend a series of events that began Friday night with well-known comedian, Rhetta. Saturday began at 9 a.m. with registration and breakfast at the Cameron Village McMahon Center with President Cindy Ross, who spoke with parents and students about “Plan 2013” and the improvements being made to Cameron at the present time and the goals for the future.

According to Jennifer Holland, Dean of Student Services, following the breakfast, parents were able to

With cold weather raging outdoors, Cameron University prepared a warm welcome last weekend for a visiting group of alumni.

Starting Friday, Feb. 22, the university opened its doors to graduates from as far back as the Class of 1948 beginning with President Cindy Ross’ University Update. After getting acquainted with the alumni, Dr. Ross gave a presentation detailing the immense change on campus in recent years, and revealed plans for the future.

Afterwards, Dr. Ross awarded Golden Associate Medallions, a special recognition for alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. Recipients included Janice Brummett, Jannett Hanes, Ed Harp, Ronald Harshaw, Peggy Long, Carney Saupitty, Ladonna Spradlon and Eugene Th ompson.

Following the ceremony, alumni boarded a tour bus to take in the sights of a new and improved campus and witness the new building projects underway.

Ernestine Rollins-Hightower, a graduate of the Class of 1970, said that the changes were incredible to see.

“You can’t imagine the diff erence,” Hightower said. “Back when I was going to school here, we had dirt streets and sidewalks.”

Janice Brummett, Class of 1956, said that she was taken aback by what she saw.

“I haven’t been on campus since I graduated,” Brummett said. “I seriously don’t recognize anything.”

Later Friday night, the Shepler Ballroom played host to the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction and Alumni Reception. Inductees included Jerry Davenport, James “Bimbo” Herron, Herb Jacobs, Jackie Martin, Val Maples,

Why choose the lesser evil?

SEE PAGE 5

Nature writers visit Aggie habitat.

SEE PAGE 9

DeBlonk serves up fi nal season on tennis team.

SEE PAGE 7

CU welcomes alumni back to campusBy John RobertsonCollegian Staff

Aggie Parent Association holds fi rst eventBy Brandi O’DanielCollegian Staff

Raymond “Red” Miller, Ted Owens, Brian Naber, Bud Sahmaunt and Orban “Speck” Sanders.

Early Saturday morning, alumni festivities kicked off again with a touch football game at Cameron Stadium featuring the 1987 NAIA National Championship Football Team, and by 11 a.m., alumni from the classes of ’57, ’82 and ’97 had reconvened at the Shepler Center Centennial and Wichita Rooms for a reception highlighting their class’ achievements.

Another awards ceremony that recognized

alumni and faculty was held Saturday afternoon at the alumni luncheon in the Shepler Ballroom. Lloyd Brooks Mitchell and Lloyd W. Sumner each received Distinguished Alumni awards, while Eric J. Johnson and Brad Zerger were honored as Outstanding Young Alumni.

take a tour.“We are excited about the

opportunity to host Aggie parents on campus during Homecoming,” Holland said. “Parental involvement is vitally important during a student’s collegiate experience, and we want to take this opportunity to recognize their support and involvement.”

Th e Parents’ Weekend marked the fi rst event of the Aggie Parent Association (APA) that was established for parents of Cameron students to become more involved in their child’s education.

Th e APA was created by Holland; Mandy Husak, Director of Placement and Zeak Naifeh, Director of Student Activities. Together, they developed the notion several months ago to introduce a program for parents to allow

them to play a more active role in their student’s college career.

According to Holland, Cameron began getting the word out to parents several months ago to inform them of the APA and establish parent’s membership.

“We started the process back in November with a big mail out to all Cameron parents and then had press releases and emails sent out in December,” she said.

While Cameron is not the fi rst university in the area to have a parent association, it is unique for a nontraditional school like Cameron to incorporate the program into their list of campus activities.

See ALUMNIPage 2

See PARENTSPage 2

Photo courtesy of Community Relations

Home again: A group of Cameron alumni reminisce over their time spent on the Cameron campus. The homecoming weekend brought many familiar faces to campus including many former CU Athletes who attended the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction.

Photo by Brandi O’Daniel

Parents come to campus: Junior Art major Ann Morris attended Parents’ Weekend with her mother. Morris brought her mother to campus for an event put on by the Aggie Parent Association.

Photo by Jim Horinek

News2 March 3, 2008

Cameron has also tried to allow students easier access to advisers and counselors that can help them out throughout their college career, and when students withdrawal from classes ask the questions to see what they can do to help.

Glover said: “We’re constantly working on student advisers so students have access to advice if they need it. When a student completely withdrawals, we see why and what we can do to help, whether it was fi nancial aid issues or a misunderstanding. What aff ects student’s lives has a big aff ect on enrollment.”

Other improvements have been made from an architectural standpoint that is expected to boost interest and enrollment at Cameron.

Dr. John Courington, Professor of Economics and current Dean of the Business Department, said that the new business building currently being erected is one of Cameron’s newest projects to improve the campus, department and enrollment.

“With the new School of Business building, faculty and students will enjoy an academic environment that will enhance all aspects of academic pursuit,” Dr. Courington said. “Th e new building will be a magnet for students. It will serve students across campus with a high tech simulated trading fl oor, a modern academic computer lab, student-faculty interaction areas, team rooms, and career development facilities.”

Dr. Courington added: “Increasingly, business students expect access to cutting edge technology, interactive learning environments, and facilities that will provide exposure to business innovation. In recent years, the limitations of the prior existing facility were an impediment to attracting students interested in studying business. Opportunities for students to collaborate on research projects and to meet with peers in an atmosphere that promotes academic excellence will be a catalyst in enrollment growth.”

Along with making physical changes on campus, CU is continuing its eff orts to get students more involved in activities through clubs and organizations.

Glover said, “Student activities is an experience that a makes student’s feel engaged and is a draw for new students.”

Cameron has also created a Student Success Series that is a month long series of workshops designed to help students with time management, personal responsibility, presentations and test taking and studying strategies. Th e series of seminars is open to all students and gives a generalized and eff ective way to better your grades and make the most of your studying time.

Glover said, “We’re trying to do more things on campus and make being a student easier so they can be more successful.”

ENROLLMENT continued from page 1

Finally, Cameron’s own Kathy Liontas-Warren, a Professor of Art, and Abdulhamid Sukar, a Professor of Economics, were inducted into the Faculty Hall of Fame.

Th e night’s events winded down with a “meet and greet” with the 1987 NAIA National Championship Football Team and the crowning of the CU Homecoming King and Queen.

Even with all of the events happening across campus over the weekend, and the age gaps between graduating classes, alumni seemingly agreed on one thing. Cameron is a powerful tool for realizing the future. Older and younger alumni alike said that the Cameron atmosphere was something they’ll never forget.

“I enjoyed going to Cameron more than anything else,” said Ed Harp. “It lead me to a lifetime of good experiences.”

Harp also said that Cameron

ALUMNI continued from page 1

“A lot of more traditional universities have this already, but as our student population gets younger we need something to help them adjust to college life,” Holland said.

Husak added that the APA is important in establishing an open communication between parents and CU’s faculty and staff so that both parents and students are aware of all the activities and opportunities that Cameron off ers.

“Th e Aggie Parent’s Association came about as an eff ort to help parents adjust to the often diffi cult transition from high school to college for their students, and to keep parents better

was much diff erent than his time that followed at Oklahoma University.

“After I left Cameron, it was a grind,” Harp said. “I was so busy working to pay my way through OU that I didn’t have time to enjoy the campus like I did here. I have no OU yearbooks, but I can look back on my time at Cameron and feel like a part of something here.”

Ernestine Rollins-Hightower, still amazed by Cameron’s progress, said that she’s proud to be a part of the Cameron family.

“It’s really become a full-fl edged university,” Hightower said. “It honors me to have graduated here and to see what it’s become.”

Hightower also shared her optimistic outlook on Cameron’s future.

“I feel as long as they have leadership, Cameron will always be inviting to people who want to better themselves,” Hightower said.

“I enjoyed going to Cameron more than anything else. It lead me to a lifetime of good experiences.”

— Ed HarpCameron Alumnus

PARENTS continued from page 1

informed about Cameron traditions, events, deadlines, and resources,” Husak said. “In a nutshell, the APA gives parents an opportunity for active involvement in their student’s CU experience, while still allowing their student to independently think, learn, grow and succeed as adults.”

Th e APA was not designed solely for parents, but with students in mind as well. With the increase of younger students enrolling at Cameron, the APA gives them more opportunities for success with the support from parents and CU faculty and staff .

“Keeping parents and students well informed about what Cameron has

to off er can make it easier for both to choose to remain at our university,” Husak said. “In essence, programs like the APA give parents and students a sense of belonging and instill Aggie pride in them from the start.”

While college students can be weighed down with the newfound responsibility that accompanies a college education and that of balancing work, course assignments and a social life, students can receive the help and support they need.

“It is important for parents to be involved in a student’s college education because the transition from high school to college can

be emotionally, intellectually, and fi nancially diffi cult for both parents and students,” Husak said. “For a student, it is reassuring to know that their parents are there to assist them as needed.”

Husak added that students that receive parental and university support are more likely to be successful throughout their college education.”

Husak believes students who receive adequate emotional, intellectual and fi nancial support from their parents are more likely to attend and succeed in their classes and graduate.

Parents that are members of the

APA can look forward to newsletters, e-mails and Cameron magazines sent out regularly, as well as invitations to events throughout the year. Cameron’s Centennial Celebration is scheduled for the fall of 2008, which will be the fi rst big event for parents and students to attend as part of the APA.

Th e Centennial Celebration will have food, games, entertainers and performers from throughout the region to help Cameron celebrate 100 years of educational excellence.

For more information on the Aggie Parent Association visit [email protected] or contact Student Services at 581.2244.

Celebrating the Aggie: (Above) Val Maples gives thanks for her induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

(Left) Members of the 1987 NAIA National Championship Football Team participate in a touch football game.

Photos courtesy of Community Relations

News 3March 3, 2008

News4 March 3, 2008

Colleges and universities across the nation have recently come under fi re for not providing quality education. In an article published in “USA TODAY,” many businesses said they were unsatisfi ed with the level of knowledge from graduating college students.

Over the past several years, businesses and policy makers have examined the quality of students graduating from college and determining whether they are well-prepared for the workforce.

A study conducted by the Peter D. Hart Research Association found that 57 percent or fewer of today’s college students have developed the skills to advance in the workforce.

While there are some students that have acquired skills in a variety of diff erent areas throughout their college experience, they may not be particularly strong in any one area.

According to Dr. John McArthur, Vice President of Academic Aff airs at Cameron University, businesses have impossible expectations to think that students will enter the workforce without any prior training.

“I don’t think it’s realistic, nor do I think it’s appropriate,” he said. “Every student participates in general education programs. We are trying to develop speaking, writing and critical thinking skills.”

Carol Schneider, Associate President of the Peter D. Hart Research Association, told “USA TODAY” that businesses are not just looking for the typical communication skills, but global and cultural knowledge as well.

Dr. McArthur and other Cameron faculty members have been keeping up with these education issues and are trying to maintain a balance between teaching students skills for their future profession and give them a well rounded education that can prepare graduates for numerous jobs and not just one in particular.

Without turning Cameron into a trade school, faculty want to prepare students for real world experiences.

Many programs are already in place throughout Cameron departments that provide hands-on or “minds-on” learning.

While Cameron does not enforce all departments on campus to adopt a hands on policy, certain departments are already using interactive learning to teach students.

Some programs such as Medical Technology, Criminal Law and Computer Information have already taken this approach.

“It is quite diff erent across the board,” Dr. McArthur said. “Th e Medical Technology program is as hands on as you can get, but what you expect a biology major to do is very diff erent from what you expect of a history major.”

He added that students couldn’t be trained in all possible career fi elds considering that students will have a number of jobs throughout their lifetime.

“Th ere are so many careers for each major and not enough students to fi t them all,” Dr. McArthur said. “Over a lifetime of people change jobs many times.”

Th ere are departments across campus that critically assess the way they teach to make courses more productive. Departments like multimedia already have ways to look at the quality of learning students in the departments are receiving.

“Multimedia annually looks at the curriculum and interviews students to see whether students are employable,” Dr. McArthur said. “Th is is in place

with the associate program and they are looking at expanding that into the bachelor degree program.”

While Cameron is not looking to reconstruct entire departments and programs to teach student specifi c job related skills, the university is trying to produce students who are more employable in the national business markets.

“We want to meet businesses part way, done in such away to improve, but not take away form the overall education,” Dr. McArthur said.

Businesses consider college education ‘unsatisfying’ for students entering marketplaceBy Brandi O’DanielCollegian Staff

“We want to meet businesses part way, done in such away to improve, but not take away form the overall education.”

— Dr. John McArthurVice President of Academic Affairs

Despite the dreary weather outside, the 11th Annual Red River Career Expo was a success.

There was a constant stream of people heading in and out of the University Fitness Center on Thursday, Feb. 21.

More than 100 employers gathered to recruit possible employees and spread the word about their organizations.

The Red River Career Expo gave students the opportunity to meet potential employers, network, and pass out their resumes and get a “ jump start” of being part of the job market.

Dr. Jennifer Pruchnicki, Director of Student Development and coordinator for the event said

Career Expo success not tempered by damp weatherBy Kerry MyersCollegian Staff

students learned a lot about the post college job market after attending the Career Expo.

“The Expo gives them a chance to begin their career search or begin networking with future employers or with individuals in the industries they are interested in,” Pruchnicki said. “Rarely does a job just fall from the sky – it’s important to be prepared by doing your research, having a strong resume and going out to meet employers. We hope

students learn the importance of a great first impression”

The Red River Career Expo is a great way for students and employers to make

contacts and decisions about the future.

Jennifer Holland, Dean of Student Services, attends the event annually. She stressed the impact attendees should attempt to make on potential employers.

“I hope students took the opportunity to visit with the employers about the company and

the type of positions available,” Holland said. “I hope they gained valuable contact information for potential positions and learned to be confident in their skills and abilities as they visited with the many companies that were represented.”

Pruchnicki expressed that one of the most valuable things a student can take away from the Red River Career Expo is how to be well prepared for future employment opportunities.

“I think prior preparation gives a job seeker an edge, and I think that employers are seeing that more and more students have done their homework prior to attending the Expo,” Pruchnicki said. “Employers appreciate the initiative that students take before applying for a job.”

Pruchnicki stated that employers are also looking to see what future employees will be like.

“I think the Expo shows employers a sampling of future employment trends,” Pruchnicki said. “Workplaces are becoming more diverse, and job seekers are savvier because there is so much research on the Internet a student can do before meeting with a potential employer.”

Pruchnicki said many students have made contacts at these types of events, so if able to attend one, it could definitely broaden your marketability with employers.

“I know of students who have interviewed with companies or gotten some great leads or ideas about their career paths from the Expo,” Pruchnicki said.

“Rarely does a job just fall from the sky – it’s important to be prepared by doing your research, having a strong resume and going out to meet employers.”

— Dr. Jennifer PruchnickiDirector of Student Development

Voices 5March 3, 2008

Editorial BoardEditor-in-Chief - Jessica LaneNews Editor - Josh RouseAssistant News Editor: Jim HorinekA&E Editor - Amanda HerreraSports Editor - Kareem GuisteVariety Editor - Bira VidalAssistant Editor - David R. BublitzCopy Editor - Laura Batule

Newsroom Staff Ads Manager - Kelley BurtCartoonist - Th omas PruittFinancial Offi cer - Susan HillStaff Writers - Chris Allison, John Robertson, Alexis DelCiello, Kerry Meyers, Brandi O’Daniel, Ashley Wilkerson

Faculty Adviser Dr. Christopher Keller

Newswriting StudentsJenifer Biles, Donnale Mann

About UsTh e offi cial student newspaper of Cameron University, Th e Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Letters PolicyLetters to the editor will be printed in

the order in which they are received and on a space available basis.

Th e Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks.

All letters from students should include fi rst and last names, classifi cation and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verifi cation.

Letters can be sent by regular mail or e-mail to [email protected], or they may be dropped off at our offi ce - Nance Boyer 2060.

Our Views Th e opinions expressed in Th e Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. Th e unsigned editorial under the heading “Our Voice” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. Th e opinions expressed in Th e Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma.

Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.

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THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

Vote CthulhuThe Great Old One demands attendence at the ballots

The primaries aren’t even over yet and we already have backstabbing, name-calling and destructive evil abound, so thick and ripe with fear, that the country is ready to tear itself apart.

This happens every four years, like some kind of vicious cycle that tears the country apart and turns brother against brother, father against son and makes cats and dogs seem cordial. I propose an end to the madness.

Instead of voting for the lesser of two evils every four years, how about we vote for the ultimate evil and just get it over with? No, I’m not talking about Satan. He’s merely a stepping-stone, a servant to the greater evil, the Great Old One, Cthulhu.

You might think I’m crazy, or have joined one of his cults that the great author H.P. Lovecraft wrote about in his mythos. I am not a part of that, but you have to admire the dedication the man had to spreading the word of

Cthulhu. Some say he was a racist. Some

say he was a loon. Some say he was a hack. I say he was a man of vision. I say he was a man of greatness. I say he was a prophet. He foretold of Cthulhu’s coming. And in 2008, with your help, Lovecraft will be vindicated.

You’re probably asking yourself, what does Cthulhu offer than other politicians don’t? Well, there are a lot of things. For one, we beat around the bush every four years (especially in the last eight years). We lie to ourselves and say we’re voting the better candidate in office every four years. But all we’re doing is putting an evil man, or woman in the office. Why settle for lesser evils? Cthulhu is the ultimate evil. He is one of the Great Old Ones. He is chaos manifest, anarchy in its purest form, evil as can be imagined.

Cthulhu caters to Democrats and Republicans, as well as non-voters who sit in their recliners watching the news every night

and complaining about how the current president is doing a horrible job.

For all you first-time voters who just turned 18 and are ready to run out and serve your country, do so. Voters need to send a message to politicians. America needs young voters to go to the polls and cast their ballots this November. Cthulhu demands it.

Cthulhu has already taken steps to prevent the “f lip-f lopping” label to be bestowed upon him. After all, he already has plenty of names and legends. The Great Old One has laid out his platform and strategy on his Web site so that everyone can know what he wishes and so that no one can accuse him of Xeroxing their work.

He embraces the war on poverty, the war on terrorism and the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

On his blog, Cthulhu states, “He supports the expansion of these petty and half-hearted, but glorious mortal efforts and further promises that, when elected, he will launch a War on Death, a War on Confusion, and will personally occupy no fewer than three additional formerly sovereign foreign nations, beginning with Swaziland.”

There you have it, instead of launching wars against third-world countries for their oil reserves and for futile hunts of non-existent weapons of mass destruction, Cthulhu will wage

war on death and confusion. How many of us have been confused? How many of us have been effected by death? No longer! Cthulhu will put an end to all of that.

Are you one of those who want to abolish the income tax? Instead

of gathering in convention halls in South Carolina and attacking poor professors in workshops, vote Cthulhu!

His online blog states this, “Great Cthulhu is neutral on tax rates, as it is his custom to

simply take what he wants, when he wants it.

He has no particular interest in pieces of green paper backed solely by religious dogma; he permits his devotees to collect as much paper in as many colors as they happen to like.”

How many have disagreed with the Supreme Court rulings every year? How many have said the justices should be replaced? Cthulhu hears your cries for help. He understands what you need.

“Great Cthulhu is well accustomed to the adoration of priests wearing black robes and he is willing to accept the due homage of the Nine and raise them to his priesthood,” Cthulhu says. “Since there will no doubt be many vacancies on the court as their minds break one after another in the mad ecstasy of his fearful presence, Great Cthulhu pledges to appoint only strict Constitutional constructionists to

the bench under the assumption that the basic sanity of their approach should allow them to serve at least a term year or two before they are reduced to gloriously gibbering cannibals. Because Great Cthulhu spent many years himself neither living nor breathing, he sees no reason that the Constitution must either.”

Fear not people, Cthulhu knows what it will take to bring the country into a new area for the 21st century. Soon, there will be no wars, no hatred, no sadness. The world will be united under one banner. I say, this November, vote Cthulhu 2008.

Print journalism is dying of technologyThat familiar ink smell, the soft

thud as the paperboy hits the door with the daily news and the black stains on the tablecloth. Th ese are all aspects of the tradition that is print journalism and the icon that we take for granted: the newspaper.

With the popularity of the Internet the face of media and the way that media is distributed to the masses has changed drastically. Th ere has been a major increase in the number of news Web sites over the past few years. Th is increase has put a major dent in the feasibility and profi tability of print journalism. It is hard to justify spending the money that it takes to print a newspaper when the same information and, in many cases, much more information can be distributed via the Internet for a much lower cost.

As the portion of the population that has grew up before the Internet was created decreases, the loyal audience of print journalism will also decrease. Most of the members of the younger generations that are part of today’s population have not lived in a world without the Internet and from this group comes much of the audience for Internet news. Th e “death” of the “Albuquerque Tribune” is a strong sign that print journalism is on its way out. According to the Associated Press, “Th e Albuquerque Tribune,” published its last paper on Feb. 23. Th e “Tribune” was a major force in print media in the state of New Mexico. Th e “Tribune” will not be the only place that closes its doors due to a loss of profi ts. However, some

of the larger newspapers may still experience a decent level of readership. Publications like “Th e USA Today” and “Th e Wall Street Journal” that have a large reader base as well as their own niche in the

news market have the possibility of surviving.

Th e publications that are most likely to shut down their presses are the smaller local newspapers that do not deal with a very large reader base or have extensive coverage. Despite the grim outlook, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for some news publications. Because the Internet is what is putting them out of business it is possible for

the newspapers to save their business by making the switch from print to a Web based publication. Th is switch will undoubtedly see a new breed of journalists who can complete the wide variety of tasks that are necessary to produce a Web publication. In many cases it is possible for the dying newspapers to actually make benefi t more from the Internet than they did with print. Th e newspapers will be able to cover more news and add a video and audio aspect to their coverage. Without the cost of printing and distribution the overall profi t of the publications would possibly increase.

Simply put, with the fact that a large amount of the world population has access to the Internet it is going to be hard for the print news publications to compete with Web based media.

Print journalism is a tradition. Th e local newspapers that many people are accustomed to and the national newspapers that line the news stands have been a part of American culture

since 1690 when Benjamin Harris published “Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic.” Th ere is no question as to the fact that the world will see a decline in the number of newspapers on the market. Th e question that remains is whether or not those impacts will be detrimental.

Th e number of people who access the Internet is a positive indicator that the world’s knowledge of current events, especially among young adults, will increase due to the proliferation of Web-based news. Th e Web off ers so much variety and options to the younger generations of news seekers

it is very possible that there will be a social benefi t to the increase of Web-based news.

It is becoming steadily more evident that those familiar aspects that come along with print journalism and the tradition that it has built may soon become all but a distant memory.

Joshua Rouse

Jim Horinek

MCT Campus

MCT Campus

Comic by Thomas Pruitt

Sports6 March 3, 2008

Holy mother of golf, he won again on Sunday. Th at makes fi ve in a row for Mr. Tiger Woods. He hasn’t lost in 2008.

Now the guy already is being asked if he might shoot for a perfect season ... you know, like the New England Patriots did. Being asked if he could win every single tim

Maybe he will.“If you don’t believe you can win

an event,” Woods said after winning a rich match-play thing in Arizona, “don’t show up.”

Let that be a golf lesson to the rest of you.

If you don’t think you can beat him, don’t bother joining him. It’s over before it’s over. Stay home. Clean your clubs.

A quick look at what’s left for 2008 and yes, you can see why Woods could win them all. It’s downhill from here.

April 10-24, Th e Masters, Au-gusta National, Augusta, Ga.Tiger tries on a green jacket before the Masters begins, just to save time. He picks out a 42 regular and tells them to put it in the trunk of his car.

PGA Tour offi cials force him to go out and actually play the golf course. Woods shoots 75 to prove he is made of fl esh and blood, not fi lled with “nuts and bolts,” as Stew-art Cink recently suggested.

Tiger fi nishes 64-62-60 to win by 20 shots. A rainy day in Georgia rusts his nuts and bolts, but he wins anyhow.

May 8-11, Th e Players Cham-pionship, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Woods phones in a 65 to win. Literally. He uses a ship-to-shore radio from his yacht, docked near Nassau, to phone in each of his

shots.A protest by Phil Mickelson that

a golfer must be required to attend a tournament in person is ignored.

June 12-15, U.S. Open, Torrey Pines, San Diego, Calif.

To tie Byron Nelson’s record of 11 tournament victories in a row, Woods agrees to Mickelson’s dare that he play barefoot and with one hand tied behind his back.

A spectator disrupts a putt at the 18th green. It angers Tiger, who begs San Diego to stay classy.

June 26-29, Buick Open, War-wick Hills, Grand Blanc, Mich.

Tiger wins again, but not before expressing his huge disappointment with each citizen of the United States who still hasn’t had the good sense to go out and buy a Buick.

Th e PGA slaps Woods with a $100,000 fi ne for “disrespecting other kinds of cars.”

July 10-13, John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Ill.

Michelle Wie fi nally wins a men’s PGA tournament, but only thanks to a sponsor’s exemption that permits her to stand on Woods’ shoulders while he hits the ball.

Wie thus becomes the fi rst female golfer to win a men’s tourna-ment while being carried by a guy.

July 17-20, British Open, Royal Birkdale, Lancashire, England.

Paul McCartney makes a $100 billion bet that Woods won’t win the tournament, thereby risking close to half of the alimony de-manded by Heather Mills.

Woods does win. He uses a portion of his winnings to purchase Wales.

Aug. 7-10, PGA Championship, Oakland Hills, Bloomfi eld Town-ship, Mich.

Tiger’s winning streak is in jeopardy when he trails Mick-elson by two going into the 72nd hole. But everything changes when

Mickelson’s tee shot goes off a tree, then a tent, then off the windshield of a car owned by a woman from Flint.

Woods aces the par 4 with a bunker rake, just to rub it in.

Aug. 18-24, Olympic Games, Beijing.

Tiger takes the gold medal in men’s basketball, edging Argentina in overtime 90-89.

“I told you, if you don’t think you can win,” he says, “don’t show up.”

Aug. 25-28, Democratic Nation-al Convention, Denver.

Woods accepts the nomination to be Barack Obama’s running mate, infuriating Republican chal-lenger John McCain, who screams at Obama: “I asked him fi rst!”

In a related development, Th e New York Times reports a suspect-ed relationship between Obama and a lobbyist representing Nike.

Sept. 4-7, BMW Championship, Bellerive, St. Louis.

Although he is clearly upset by the Tournament Formerly Known as the Western Open being moved out of the Chicago area, Woods enters it and wins. He is appeased by an announcement that the 2009 event plans to return to Lemont as the BMW Diablo Cody Classic.

Sept. 18-21, Ryder Cup, Val-halla, Louisville.

Th e defending champion Euro team stands in awe after its stun-ning Ryder Cup defeat by a U.S. team made up of Tiger Woods and a half-dozen Churchill Downs jockeys.

U.S. captain Paul Azinger says: “I have never seen Tiger with such a good short game.”

Oct. 16-19, Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas.

Raising a bundle for charity while winning yet another PGA Tour event, Woods also makes a

Tiger woods may sweep entire seasonBy Mike DowneyMCt Campus

music video with Timberlake called “9-Iron in a Box” that is expected to win each of them a Grammy.

Tiger announces that he prob-ably will skip the Miley Cyrus Min-iature Golf Pro-Am as well as the Lindsay Lohan Skins Game later in the month.

Oct. 21-30, World Series, Chi-cago.

Woods defeats the Cubs all by

himself in Game 4, so far in front after six innings at Wrigley Field that the rest of the series is called off .

Asked if he could also enter and win the Tour de France, the X Games and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he replies: “Th at’s my intent.”

He just might.

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

Salut: Tiger Woods salutes the crowd on his win after putting out on 18 during fi nal round action for the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

The week that was in the world of sportsRewinding the week that was,

in which the NBA All-Star game provided non-stop action (well, on the off ensive end, anyway), a really long losing streak came to a merciful end (no, not hers), and millions of Dallas Cowboys fans prepared to answer the call “If anyone here knows of any reason why these two should not be wed ...”

EAST WINS ALL-STAR GAME 134-128

If no one is going to play defense in this thing, why not just let the Knicks suit up?

A-ROD: I WAS TESTED 9 OR 10 TIMES’

When it was pointed out that so many tests could have indicated a red fl ag, Alex Rodriguez acknowledged he was exaggerating. At least he didn’t say he “misremembered.”

GORAN IVANISEVIC BECOMES SEAN PENN

A photographer says the former Wimbledon champion assaulted him as he tried to take his picture. Th e big news here is that somebody actually remembered Goran Ivanisevic.

MONICA SELES ON REALITY TV

Th e retired tennis legend will be on “Dancing With the Stars.” Hmm ... wouldn’t “Shrieking With the Stars” be more appropriate?

DUKE LOSES TWO IN A ROW

Aren’t the Blue Devils supposed to wait until March to fold?

FIDEL CASTRO STEPS DOWN AS CUBAN LEADER

Th e Yankees immediately off ered him a one-year, $28-million contract to join their rotation.

RYAN NEWMAN WINS DAYTONA 500

Newman had gone 81 races

without a win. If the losing streak had lasted any longer, Hillary Clinton was planning to sponsor his car.

PHOTO PLACES CLEMENS AT CANSECO BARBECUE

A man says he took pictures of Roger Clemens at Jose Canseco’s 1998 party, which the Rocket, under oath, told Congress he never attended. If the picture is authentic, the only league Clemens will be pitching in next year might be the California Penal League.

INDIANA PARTS WAYS WITH KELVIN SAMPSON

Just in time, too. Congress was about to launch another investigation.

MANNY RAMIREZ LOVES BEANTOWN

Th e slugger said he wants to fi nish his career in Fenway Park. Well, sure. How many other stadiums have a bathroom in the left-fi eld wall?

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM BRINGING OWN FOOD

If only the Americans could fi gure out a way to bring their own air to Beijing.

FALCONS GET SOME GOOD NEWS

By winning a coin fl ip, Atlanta will get the third pick in the NFL draft. Which is kind of like being given a glass of water while you’re standing in a burning building _ not a lot of help, but you’re not going to turn it down.

REPORT: ROMO, JESSICA TO WED

Us magazine says QB Tony Romo and girlfriend Jessica Simpson are talking matrimony. Cowboys fans now are fully expecting an 0-16 season.

VIRGINIA TECH RALLIES TO STUN MARYLAND

Th e Hokies really left everything on the fl oor. Especially Dorenzo Hudson.

By Dave JohnsonMCt Campus

Photo courtesy MCT Campus

Champions: Ryan Newman celebrates his victory in the Daytona 500 with members of his team at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Sports 7March 3, 2008

Assistant coach possibility for DeBlonk

Megan deBlonk left Kansas behind to pursue something greater, her passion to play tennis at Cameron University.

Since she was nine, deBlonk has been playing tennis with the help and infl uence of her family.

She shared the passion for the sport with her dad, who made sure she was well instructed and kept up her game.

“My dad taught [how to play tennis]. I think a lot had to do with my family and the benefi ts they got from that,” deBlonk said.

Keeping family tradition, deBlonk’s sister attended Cameron and also served on the women’s tennis team. Jessica deBlonk was one of the reasons why Megan chose Cameron as her university.

“My sister played here previously and then she coached [on an assistant position],” deBlonk said.

Relating tennis to her life, deBlonk says the sport has helped her in many diff erent ways. Tennis has given her the opportunity to reach some of her objectives.

“It gives you good goals and it inspires you,” deBlonk said.

Th e 2008 season started in the beginning of February and deBlonk has prepared herself to face her last season on the team.

As a senior, she thinks about the outcome of the season and the possibility of stepping up to a new level in the competition.

“Th is season is going to be amazing. We got a lot of tough schools and this is my last year. We practice Monday

through Friday and when the weather is fi ne we hit it on the weekend.

“I think we have potential to go [to Nationals]. We know the team. It would be awesome to go to Nationals,” deBlonk said.

As she enters her fi nal season, deBlonk thinks about the changes she to her schedule and her life without those daily tennis practices.

“It’s going to be surreal. For four years I’ve been practicing,” deBlonk said.

But she still faces the possibility of staying on the team. Carolina Vera-Vera currently serves as the Assistant Coach for Women’s Tennis. Vera-Vera’s fi nal term concludes this spring semester and anyone can apply for the position.

Because deBlonk has played on the tennis team and knows the tactics of the game, she feels the odds of her being hired are in her favor.

“I considered the Assistant Coach position, and that’s a good opportunity,” deBlonk said.

DeBlonk has plans for the immediate future. With a degree in Criminal Justice, she will opt for a diff erent route, taking an internship in a separate fi eld after graduation.

“I have an internship in real estate and it should potentially lead to a job,” deBlonk said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

As for her future and tennis, deBlonk stated her passion would remain with the sport. Her plans are to keep playing, and in the long run, to relate her fi nal job decision to tennis.

“It would be nice to stay in tennis. I wouldn’t imagine my life without tennis. We’ll see what happens,” deBlonk said.

By Bira VidalCollegian Staff

Photo coutesy Rafael Zurita

Just days before their 2008 home opener, the Cameron softball team (11-10) this weekend participated in the West Texas A&M Lady Buff Invitational tournament.

The Aggie squad has taken part in a number of non-conference tournament thus far this season, and today wrapped up a solid 3-1 showing in their four games at WTAMU. CU swept their two games on Friday, and split their two games this afternoon.

“We won three out of four and were able to beat a fellow Lone Star Conference team,” Head Coach Richie Nye said. “I feel like now that we have played our tournaments and one of the tougher schedules in the LSC from a competition standpoint, it says a lot about the character of our players.”

On Friday afternoon, Cameron was originally scheduled to take on Fort Hays State University and Oklahoma City University , but ended up with a double-header against the FHSU Tigers. In the first game between the teams, CU shut out FHSU, 8-0.

Cameron got on the board early thanks to a seven-run second inning. The Aggies extended their lead to 8 runs forcing the game to be called after the Tigers’ at-bats in the fifth inning due to a run-rule. Cameron held Fort Hays to only 2 hits in the game and did not commit an error.

Sophomore pitcher Ashton McBride recorded a shutout and a complete game victory after going all 5.0 innings. She gave up no runs on only 2 hits after facing a total of 16 batters. McBride also walked only one Tiger batter and did not give up an extra-base hit.

“We have picked up our defensive play a little bit,” Coach Nye said. “Offensively we are still not hitting the ball as well as we should be considering the girls we have in our lineup. But so far

every time we have needed a big hit someone has stepped up.”

In the nightcap between the teams, Fort Hays made it more interesting but still did not have the firepower to upset the Aggies. Cameron won the game 12-7 although they were behind twice

in the game. FHSU got on the board first going up 1-0 after the first inning, but the Aggies rebounded and took the lead 5-1.

A five-run fourth

inning gave the Tigers their

second lead of the game, but Cameron once again bounced back and took the lead for good. Cameron recorded 16 hits in the game and only committed 1 error.

Senior third-baseman Melissa Bour had a great double-header with Fort Hays State and a very

solid tournament as a whole. Against FHSU she knocked in a total of 4 RBI and went 4-7 from the plate with two doubles and a homerun. For the weekend she went 6-13 with a team-high 6 RBI.

“Melissa had a very good tournament this weekend,” Coach Nye said. “She hit the ball very hard and played well. We need players like her to step up and that’s what it takes to win ballgames.”

In today’s games Cameron started out with a defeat at the hands of the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm. The score was close for most of the game and was only 3-2 after 4.5 innings.

The Storm put up 3 runs in the final 2 innings to clinch the 6-2 victory. Cameron finished with 5 hits and no errors in the game.

Sophomore pitcher Sherry Tetreault put in a solid performance from the mound as she went 5.2 innings for the loss. She faced 32 batters and only gave up 6 runs, 4 earned, on 9 hits. Tetreault also struck out 4 batters and walked 5.

Cameron’s fourth and final game of the tournament pitted

them against the host Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M University . The Aggies started the game the right way by taking an early 1-0 after their first at-bat.

WTAMU stole the lead in the top of the second to go up 2-1, which is where the score stayed for most of the game. Cameron regained the lead in the fifth inning and put the game out of reach in the sixth. CU ended up defeating WTAMU 4-2.

McBride and Bour both put in strong final games as McBride recorded her second victory of the season and Bour knocked in 2 of her aforementioned 6 total RBI. McBride went all 7.0 innings and faced 33 batters.

She gave up only 2 runs on 9 hits and struck out 2 Lady Buffs. Bour went 1-3 with a game-winning double in the fifth that put Cameron up for good.

“If we continue to play like this and have a few other players step up we will be in good shape,” Coach Nye said. “I feel like we have improved, gotten better, and made some adjustments throughout these early tournaments. Now that we have some home games we will be able to put everything together.”

Lady Aggies win three games before home openerBy Craig MartinSports Information Director

Graphic coutesy MCT Campus

Baseball team loses fi rst series of seasonHitting the road for the fi rst

time this season, the Cameron Aggie baseball team (9-7, 3-5 LSC) traveled south this weekend to take on the Angelo State University Rams (11-5, 6-2 LSC).

CU ended up losing their fi rst series of the season as they dropped three of the four games. Angelo State is a very good team who went deep into the NCAA postseason last year with more then 50 victories.

On Friday afternoon the teams matched up for the fi rst game of the series. ASU got on the board early thanks to a two-run fi rst inning, but Cameron cut the lead in half after their at-bats in the second inning. Th e Rams extended their lead with 6 runs over the next 2 innings and ended up winning the game 8-1. Cameron recorded 8 hits in the game to Angelo States 9 hits, and committed 3 errors.

Junior outfi elder Josh Barnett showed that he has fully recovered from an early season hamstring

10-9. Barnett continued to have his

way with Ram pitching as he went 3-4 from the plate with a team-high 2 RBI. He was a homerun away from the cycle after recording a single, a double, and a triple in the game. Barnett also stole a base.

Th is afternoon the teams wrapped up the four-game series with Cameron hoping for a split. Unfortunately the Ram off ense

By Craig MartinSports Information Director

pull by going 3-4 from the plate in the game. He was the lone Aggie to record multiple hits in the contest and fi nished with a team-high 2 doubles.

Th e next two games of the series came via a double-header on Saturday afternoon. Cameron won the fi rst game 7-5 after battling back from an early defi cit. Th e Aggies got things going and started with a 1-0 lead, but the Rams took over 2-1 after the fi rst 2 innings. Beginning in the fourth inning, CU scored at least one run in fi ve straight innings to put the game out of reach.

A pair of Aggies hit at least .750 from the plate in the game. Sophomore third-baseman Blake Watson had a great day swinging the bat as he went 3-4 with a team-high 3 RBI. He also walked once and hit a homerun. Senior catcher Kyle Walbrick was another CU player with an outstanding off ensive performance as he went 4-5 from the plate with 2 runs. He

also hit a double. In the nightcap it appeared as

if Cameron was going to get an afternoon sweep of Angelo State. Cameron built up a very nice lead thanks to a seven-run second inning. Going into the seventh and fi nal inning Cameron was up 9-2, but that was simply not enough. Th e Rams scored 8 straight runs in the inning without ever recording an out to win the game

Photo coutesy David R. Bublitz

Warming up: A few members of the Cameron University baseball squad rests before their home game at the McCord Field. The team so far has maintain a good record at home in its spring 2008 season.

was too much as the Aggies were run-ruled and lost 13-3. CU only recorded 5 hits in the game and committed 6 errors.

Senior pitcher Bevan Anderson was saddled with the loss after putting in a strong 5.2 innings of work. He faced 27 batters and gave up 8 runs, only 4 earned, on 10 hits. He also struck out 2 batters and walked 3.

A&E8 March 3, 2008

Strike ends, Academy Awards unhinderedBy Joshua RouseCollegian Staff

One month ago, the Oscars were on ice and the little statuettes were huddled together in a dark room, terrifi ed that they would be degraded in the same manner as the Golden Globes. Th anks to quick action by the Writers Guild of America, the Oscars were back on and on Feb. 24 the stars were out and shining as bright as ever.

Going into the show, the contenders in the top categories had been narrowed down to but a handful of names, mostly “No Country for Old Men” and “Th ere Will Be Blood.” Both movies quietly came onto the scene late in the Oscar season and began bringing in accolades as the award season kicked off earlier this year.

Still, people love an underdog (not the movie) and many had hoped 20-year-old actress Ellen Page would take home an Oscar for her popular role as a pregnant teen in “Juno.” Marion Cotillard ultimately won the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role for her role as singer Edith Piaf in “La Mome.” She beat out newcomer Page and familiar faces like Cate Blanchett who was previously nominated for her performance as Queen Elizabeth in “Elizabeth: A Golden Age.” Blanchett was nominated for the same role in 1999 in the movie “Elizabeth.”

Daniel Day-Lewis has been nominated for an Oscar four times and has won

one-half of those times. He makes Peter O’Toole cry himself to sleep at night. Lewis’ latest Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar was earned for his role as Daniel Plainview, a

cutthroat prospector in turn-of-the-century Texas in “Th ere Will Be Blood.”

Viggo Mortensen was nominated for his gritty portrayal of a Russian mob hit man in “Eastern Promises.” He’s turned in two award-winning performances in two years with director David Croneburg. Last year, he starred in “A History of Violence” as Tom Stall, a man with a history of violence living in a small town. Perhaps he’ll win his deserving Oscar next year. If not, he and O’Toole can create a support group for multi-nominated performers.

Th e two most important awards of the night, Best Director and Best Picture, when announced, held no surprises for winners or attendees. Joe and Ethan Coen took home the Academy’s two most prestigious awards for “No Country for Old Men.” Th e movie, which features no music, tells the story of mob cash and the trail of blood one serial killer leaves to get it back.

After the feel-good story of director Martin Scorsese fi nally winning an Oscar, the Coens’ victory fell a little fl at. Both brothers are no strangers to the Academy’s graces, winning multiple awards for “Fargo,” their bloody depiction of murder in the Great North.

With the lack of surprises in both the nominations and the winners, it was not surprising that a record number of viewers chose another channel. According to Nielson Media Research, only 32 million people watched the Oscars this year, which is an all-time record low.

“Th e Chicago Tribune” blames the drop in viewers on the dark, edgy content of the favorite movies. Show host, Jon Stewart touched on the broody nature of the fi lms.

One could also consider the lack of a blockbuster movie to be a big factor. In 1998, the year “Titanic” won a record 11 Oscars, more than 55 million people tuned in. Last year, Scorsese’s crime-drama “Th e Departed” took home many of the little statuettes. Th e movie was

heavily promoted during its late-2006 theatrical run and ended up grossing more than $100 million at the box offi ce. Of the fi ve nominated movies for Best Picture, only “Juno” boasts a box offi ce total of more than $100 million.

Still, even holding the Oscars

this year has to be seen as a victory for Hollywood, which lost billions during the three-month long writer’s strike. Had the Oscars been reduced to another devastating press conference, who knows how many viewers the Academy would have lost?

Sweet victory: From left, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen and producer Scott Rudin accept the Oscar for Best Picture for the fi lm “No Country for Old Men” during the 80th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

MCT Campus MCT Campus

I’d like to thank: Diablo Cody won the Oscar for Best Original screenplay for “Juno” during the 80th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Sunday, Feb. 24. This was Cody’s fi rst Oscar nomination and award.

Oscar wrap-up

A&E 9March 3, 2008

Cokinos, Lison give readings at CU Library

By: David R. BublitzCollegian Staff

Utah State University professors and writers Chris Cokinos and Kathe Lison gave readings on Friday, Feb. 22, at the Cameron Library, as part of Cameron’s visiting writer series.

Lison, who began the readings, has had essays and poetry published in literary journals like “Wasatch Journal,” “Western American Literature,” “Clackamas Literary Review,” “Primavera,” and “Under the Sun,” just to name a few.

She read a few passages from her newest nonfi ction work, a research-based narrative about French cheeses. Lison said the reason she decided to write the book on cheese

was to off er readers an opportunity to expand their interests.

“I hope that I can interest readers in subjects that they may not have thought they had interest in before and teach them something about the subject,” she said.

Lison’s work on the cheese narrative will have taken her to France on fact-fi nding and cheese-tasting expeditions at least three times before the book’s completion. After Lison read a sample of her work, nature writer Chris Cokinos took the podium.

Cokinos is a poetry and nonfi ction writer. He has published two books, the fi rst a book of poetry titled “Killing Seasons” and the second, a nonfi ction nature narrative titled “Hope Is the

Th ing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds.” In addition to his book publications, Cokinos has published work in “Poetry,” “Th e Iowa Review,” “dislocate,” “Science,” “Birder’s World” and “Shenandoah.”

At the reading, he read a few passages from his latest work “Th e Fallen Sky: A Private History of Shooting Stars,” a book about meteorites and meteorite hunters that took Cokinos as far as 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle and to Antarctica. Cokinos searched for and collected meteorites as part of the 2003-2004 Antarctic Search for Meteorites Expedition.

Much like Lison, Cokinos hoped his work would ignite new interests in his readers.

“What I want to accomplish with my nonfi ction writing is to get interested readers who aren’t going to know that they’re interested in meteorites and the people who hunt them until they read my book,” he said.

Cokinos said that nature writing has helped him expand his own interests and learn.

“As a reader, what I value most about it is learning about the natural world, the non-human world. I’m a sucker for facts; I love to learn new things. But I’m also particularly interested in writing what’s beautiful, both in the actual content and in the writer’s style,” Cokinos said.

A drive to learn hasn’t been the only infl uencing factor on Cokinos’ work.

“Poetry has really helped me in paying attention to language and journalism has really helped me in paying attention to facts. I don’t see why they have to be mutually exclusive,” he said.

While attention to language and facts has been important to Cokinos, he said that attention to character and an ability to look inward helped him to discover things about himself as well as the world around him.

“‘Hope is a Th ing with Feathers’ included a lot of natural history, but there was a lot more going on in a personal way then even I realized as I was writing it,” Cokinos said, “so with the meteorite book, I’m really conscious of being part of the story in a way that a lot of science and nature writers would not

want to.”Looking inward has been not

only an important part of Cokinos’ already-published work, but has also been important to his newest writing.

“It seemed impossible to me to write about the lives of these meteorite hunters, many of whom had terrible things happen without acknowledging that I had gone through some experiences that helped me understand them [the meteorite hunters] better - like divorce and things like that,” Cokinos said. “So, there’s a memoir strand in that book [“Th e Fallen Sky”] that a lot of science and nature writers would not have.”

“Th e writers I most admire are going into the natural world with an open eye, learning from it and they’re conveying that learning to readers,” he said. “Th e step that I want to try to take is to not only do that but to acknowledge the fact that I’m also this human being, I’m not like this ‘author guy.’ I have this other life and that is infl uencing what I’m doing.”

Writing to inform: Writers Chris Cokinos (above) and Kathe Lison (below) read from their latest works-in-progress on Friday, Feb. 22, in the Cameron Library. Cokinos and Lison are both interested in research-based nonfi ction writing and write to instill new interests in their readers.

Photos by David R. Bublitz

Cheese and meteorites:

Strike over: television writers to return to workBy: Chris AllisonCollegian Staff

Th e writer’s strike has ended and viewers can look forward to their favorite shows returning.

After three months of negotiations, the Writer’s Guild of America settled with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. One of the main issues of the strike was the distribution of royalties for television shows and movies broadcast on the Internet.

TV Guide provided a list of the airdates of returning shows on its Web site but noted the following airdates are tentative and may be subject to change.

Th e strike has postponed the seventh season of “24” to January of 2009. Th ere are eight episodes of “Lost” that were made before the strike and fi ve more episodes will air beginning in late April. All three of the “CSI” and “Law & Order” series will return in the spring. “Saturday Night Live” aired its fi rst post-strike show on Feb. 23. “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Th e Offi ce,” “30 Rock,” “Desperate Housewives,” “House,” “Ugly Betty,” and “Boston Legal” are returning in April.

But some shows, such as “Bionic Woman” and “Journeyman,” were canceled due in part to the writer’s strike. “Battlestar Galactica” will begin production on its fi nal season in March with an indeterminate airdate. Th e superhero drama “Heroes” and the comedy “Pushing Daisies” are expected to return in the fall.

Both sides of the strike seem content with the outcome.

According to CNN.com, Leslie Moonves of CBS Corporation made this statement, “At the end of the day, everybody won. It was a fair deal and one that the companies can live with, and it recognizes the large contribution that writers have made to the industry.”

Th e strike ended just in time to allow the Academy Awards to broadcast in its usual three-hour format. Th e Golden Globes were broadcast at a January news conference that announced the winners. Had the strike not been settled, actors would have boycotted the Oscars.

CNN estimates that the economy of Los Angeles County alone lost around $3.2 billion. Paul Bond of Th e Hollywood Reporter sites several examples. When the strike began, 46 primetime dramas were shooting in Los Angeles. Each episode costs about $3 million to produce. Any one-week of canceled production means a loss of $138 million. Each show employs 200 workers. To date, approximately 10,000 people

have lost their jobs. Permits to shoot dramas fell from 263 to 91 and sitcom permits fell from 59 to 18.

An example of aff ects on industry related businesses are limousine companies. Th ere are more than 1,200 limo companies and 6,000 drivers in Los Angeles. One company lost $200,000 in January and its 34 drivers lost an estimated $30,000 in tips. One single client of that company canceled 180 cars in one day.

Carl DiOrio of Th e Hollywood Reporter explained the issues agreed on in the strike settlement. Basic compensation for writers will increase around 3-3.5% per year. A fi rst-time residual of 1.2% of the distributor

gross will be awarded for Internet fi lm and TV content. Writers also have received rights to spin-off projects that result from their materials. CNN cites that writers would get a maximum fl at fee of around $1,200 for streamed programs in the next two years and 2% of distributor’s gross in the third year.

MCT Campus

Variety10 March 3, 2008

Photo courtesy of Community RelationsPhoto courtesy of Community RelationsPhotos by Bennett DewanPhotos by Bennett Dewan

Photo Collage by Bira VidalPhoto Collage by Bira Vidal

By Craig MartinSports Information DirectorSports Information Director

On Cameron’s first annual On Cameron’s first annual Athletics Hall of Fame Athletics Hall of Fame weekend, the Aggie basketball weekend, the Aggie basketball teams hosted the RiverHawks teams hosted the RiverHawks of Northeastern State and of Northeastern State and were looking for the first were looking for the first women’s-men’s sweep of the women’s-men’s sweep of the season. Unfortunately, neither season. Unfortunately, neither CU team was able to record CU team was able to record the victory and NSU left the victory and NSU left Lawton with two victories. Lawton with two victories. The Aggie women lost 82-68 The Aggie women lost 82-68 but played the RiverHawks but played the RiverHawks completely close throughout completely close throughout the entire game. the entire game.

In the second game of the In the second game of the afternoon the Cameron men afternoon the Cameron men fell to Northeastern State by fell to Northeastern State by the score 77-60. The Aggies the score 77-60. The Aggies battled back from more than battled back from more than 30 points down to make the 30 points down to make the game very interesting down the game very interesting down the stretch. On Feb. 20 both teams stretch. On Feb. 20 both teams traveled to Durant to play traveled to Durant to play Southwestern Oklahoma State Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The women were University. The women were unable to come out of Durant unable to come out of Durant with a win. However the men with a win. However the men won their game with a final won their game with a final score of 73-72.score of 73-72.